The scene--the bar on the station. Master Mospheiran sits on one side of a table, Bob, and Cindy are seated at the other side. Algie, dressed in work coveralls, enters the bar. He spots Master Mospheiran, Bob, and Cindy and comes over to their table

Algie: "Hey, I was thinking about what you said, last time."

Master Mospheiran: "What did I say last time?"

Algie: "You know, when is a door not a door. It’s really been bugging me. But this guy on third shift, he told me it was in the archive, that when a door isn't a door, it’s a jar."

Master Mospheiran: "That’s right. That’s exactly right."

Algie: "But I still don’t get it. How can a door be a jar?"

Master Mospheiran: "How did things work out with the woman who found the spud that night?"

Algie: "Not too well. She said I was an idiot and she couldn’t help me."

Cindy: "Wow. That’s pretty rude."

Algie: (shrugs) "I guess she’s got a right to have her own opinion."

Master Mospheiran: "So why are you still in coveralls? You have to work an extra shift or something?"

Silence for a few moments.

Algie: "I need some socks."

Master Mospheiran: (frowns) "Socks? Algie, I just sold you two pairs."

Algie: "I, uh, need some more. But I don’t have any cash. I was hoping to make a trade."

Master Mospheiran: "What kind of trade were you thinking of?"

Algie leans over and whispers in Master Mospheiran’s ear.

Master Mospheiran: "I didn’t think your taste ran that way, Algie."

Algie: "I really need these socks."

Master Mospheiran: "Why do you need more socks already? And why are you so broke? It’s not like there’s much to spend your money on here, except maybe vodka, and you don’t drink that much."

Algie is silent.

Cindy: "Let me guess. It probably started as a few innocent bets on a few harmless games of Find the Spud. Then the next thing you knew somebody was telling you about this sure thing over at the unauthorized market, there was a game going with some atevi who had only that evening learned the rules to poker."

Algie: "Well, how was I supposed to know?"

Master Mospheiran: "So why are you desperate for socks when you just got new ones?"

Algie: "I lost all my money in the game."

Cindy takes a swig of vodka.

Master Mospheiran: : "Right, but what does that have to do with your socks?"

Algie: "Well, see, I kept thinking I could win some of it back. Only I was out of money to bet with, see."

Cindy chokes on her vodka. Bob laughs out loud.

Master Mospheiran: "So that’s why you’re wearing your work clothes. But can’t you just go without socks for awhile?"

Algie: "I don’t see what’s so funny. You know what clothes are worth up here. And it’s cold in that part of the station."

Master Mospheiran kicks Bob under the table.

Master Mospheiran: "No, you’re right. It isn’t funny at all. You could have gotten frostbite. How did you get home?"

Algie: "I told station security it was a prank. They’re taking the fine out of my next paycheck."

Master Mospheiran: "So you’re telling us that you lost everything you had that was of any kind of value."

Algie: "Pretty much, yeah."

Master Mospheiran: "And you can’t go two weeks without socks."

Algie is silent.

Master Mospheiran: "Algie, I’m going to tell you right now, we don’t take that kind of trade. Some do, but we don’t. But I want to know, just exactly why are you so desperate for a pair of socks? You’ve got your work coveralls, you’ve got boots on your feet, I see. What’s the story with the socks?"

Algie bites his lip and looks at the floor. Cindy sets her drink down.

Cindy: "Algie, you naughty boy. You could have gotten frostbitten. You should have gotten frostbitten. But you didn’t. I know you didn’t, because I definitely would have heard a story like that."

Master Mospheiran: (frowns) "Am I missing something?"

Bob: "I don’t get it either."

Cindy: "He doesn’t want socks to wear. He wants a stake. He wants back in the game."

Algie blushes.

Master Mospheiran: "Didn’t you learn anything? You can’t possibly think you can win your stuff back."

Cindy: "Oh, he doesn’t think he’ll win. Do you, Algie?"

Algie: (fervently) "God, I hope not."

Master Mospheiran: "Algie....uh.... Algie, have you considered just telling them what you want?"

Algie considers this for a moment.

Algie: "Do you think it would work? There’s kind of a language barrier."

Bob: "I think you’ll probably manage to get it across."

Algie: "Yeah. Yeah, maybe you’re right."

Bob: "How are you fixed for meals?"

Algie: "Oh, that’s fine, Sammy’s putting it on my tab. Thanks, guys."

Master Mospheiran: "Don’t mention it."

Bar patron: "Hey, Algie! How’s Hydroponics?"

Algie: "What is it with Hydroponics? I don’t work in Hydroponics, I never have. Why does everybody ask me about Hydroponics?"

Algie exits the bar.

Bob: "Well, that was interesting. What did he offer?"

Master Mospheiran: "You don’t want to know."

Bob laughs. Master Mospheiran drinks the last of his vodka.

Master Mospheiran: "Well, I’ve got some business to take care of. I won’t be back ‘til late. See you guys later."

Master Mospheiran rises.

Bob: "See you."

Cindy: "See you."